Ghost Story

A Novel of the Dresden Files

By: Jim Butcher

Narrated by: James Marsters

Length: 17 hrs and 36 mins

Publisher's summary

When an unknown someone shoots him and leaves him to die, Harry Dresden hopes he might be heading to a better place. Unfortunately being dead doesn't make Harry's life any easier.

Trapped between life and death, he learns that his friends are in serious trouble. Only by finding his murderer can he save his friends and move on - a feat that would be a lot easier if he had a body and access to his powers. Worse still are the malevolent shadows that roam Chicago, controlled by a dark entity that wants Harry to suffer even in death.

Now the late Harry Dresden will have to pull off the ultimate trick without using any magic - or face an eternity as just another lost soul....

©2012 Jim Butcher (P)2015 Penguin Audio

The masterpiece of an amazing series.

What did you love best about Ghost Story?

I’m going to go ahead and assume that anyone reading the reviews for Ghost Story has already read the previous 12 books in the series, so if you haven’t then I recommend not reading this review any further because there is going to be a lot of spoilers in regards to the Dresden Files as a whole, though I will not spoil anything about Ghost Story itself.
I wasn’t planning on reviewing any of the Dresden Files books until I got through all the books that are currently released (through Skin Game) but I couldn’t resist once I finished with Ghost Story. I began this series with relatively high hopes after reading Patrick Rothfuss’ review of the series. Being one of my favorite authors at the moment I took his praise of Jim Butcher’s flagship series to heart and immediately purchased Storm Front.
As I worked my way through the series I was constantly struck with so many thoughts both good and less good about the series and the world and Harry Dresden himself, but the thing that struck me most about these books was Butcher’s ability to create worlds. With each successive narrative Butcher adds new elements and new characters that build off each other and previous entries in the series seamlessly. Typically with this style of “freak of the week” bad guy novel series the relationships and story lines become so convoluted that it’s hard to keep track of which character is which and you end up needing to reread previous passages from previous novels just to remember who the character is and what their relationship with the main character is. Not so with the Dresden Files. Butcher creates such vivid characters with real and memorable relationships that when he reintroduces a character 3 or 4 books after he/she was introduced you can instantly remember their previous interactions with Dresden.
The Furthermore, Butcher’s ability to create whole governments and entities and establish their relationships with wizards and Harry makes a very believable coexistence between our world and the supernatural world of Butcher’s creation.I have particularly enjoyed watching the interactions of the different vampire courts and the beings of the Never Never. The fact that Dresden doesn’t comfortably fit in with any of the different groups and carves his own path leads to several largely satisfying interactions and windows into the world itself which make it seem all the more real. The best example of this is his lifelong fight to gain the respect of his fellow wizards on the White Council while at the same time not falling into line just because those on the Senior Council tell him to. The layers and levels of depth to Dresden as a character and the world of the Dresden Files is so deep and immersive that the story arcs feel real and you feel invested in Harry and what he’s trying to accomplish.
The best part about the series is Harry’s magic. I am a huge fan of fantasy and magic in general, but too many authors use magical abilities to create a deus ex machina to save their plot or character from ridiculous odds. Their magic becomes so huge and powerful that the odds never seem insanely stacked against them. Not so in the Dresden Files. Harry’s ability to use magic, while epic in comparison to the everyday people he associates, pales in comparison to the abilities of his enemies, which are varied and many. He constantly relies upon the help of his friends or “frenemies” and insane luck to overcome the odds. Don’t get me wrong, there are plenty of times Harry is saved from impossible situations by randomly increased magical ability or other divine intervention, but the world and story is so well established that the solution to those situations never seems unrealistic or forced. Butcher is truly a master of his craft.
Now onto the review of Ghost Story. It makes sense for a series as long standing and prolific as the Dresden Files to reach a point that it needs to evolve and reevaluate its current course. Ghost Story is that book for the Dresden Files. It’s impressive that the same formula could remain so refreshing and fun following the same pattern over and over, this is a testament to Butcher’s amazing world building and writing. However, I feel like Ghost Story is the first book in the series where I was fully invested 100% in all of the characters, not just Harry himself. The story itself basically plays into a few cliche arcs first introduced by Dickens’ Christmas Story, but Dresden actually references those comparisons in the story, along with a fun comparison to the movie “Ghost”, and makes fun of them in such a way that you can tell Butcher is mirroring those conventions tongue in cheek.
The difference between Ghost Story and the rest of the Dresden Files is obviously the lack of magic. Dresden is unable to solve his problems by throwing as much power as he can muster at them. He is required to be much more introspective and contemplative in order to overcome adversity. This leads to several very impressive and satisfying self reflections about Harry’s nature and the path he has traveled since the events of “Storm Front”. Seeing the story arc of the entire series laid so bare and to watch Butcher himself connect the dots of events throughout the preceding 12 books to show that this has been one long, interconnected story, show that Butcher knows the overarching story arc he intends Dresden to follow and has known of it since the beginning of the series. That mind numbing ability and sense actually allows you to see the growth that Dresden has had and to appreciate the road he has followed.
It’s also very interesting to see the interaction of all the secondary characters and their life since Harry left. Because you are so used to Harry’s strength as a wizard and an investigator, you forget the relative strength of other character compared to normal human beings. Without spoiling anything you really get to see that aspect of the characters first hand throughout this story.
Ghost Story is really, for lack of a better description, Jim Butcher summarizing and closing the first 12 books of the story and ending that phase of Harry’s life in preparation for the next part of his journey. I’m really excited to see where that journey leads and hopefully we’ll have at least 12 MORE books to explore Harry’s growth. Bravo Mr. Butcher. Bravo.

JAMES MARSTERS!!! YES...!

thank you Audible for giving us this version. i have said it before and i'll say it again...nobody should do the Dresden Files except James Marsters. wonderful listen as always with J.M.
i am impatiently waiting for book 16 to appear. that's the problem with a series as great as this, the author can't write as fast as i can listen...:o)

Stunning

Jim Butcher is an absolute craftsman; with delicate foreshadowing and impeccable timing, he creates the most captivating and enthralling story I have ever had the good fortune to enjoy. Marsters is incredible, he brings Dresden to life in a way that no other narrator possibly could. No offense meant to Mr. Glover, but Marsters and Dresden might as well be the same person at this point. My favorite book series and my favorite narrator.

Thank you, Audible!

Thank you for reissuing Ghost Story with James Marsters as narrator. He is the voice of Dresden, and it feels that I've finally heard one of Harry's most crucial stories in his own voice.

Classic Marsters

With James Marsters back in the drivers seat, it made this a brand new book, you can't go wrong with Dresden, dead or alive!

Undervalued additional to the series

Great story. Marsters fully embodies every character, intimately. A unique perspective that renders Dresden initially powerless, only to find himself again.

Loved it!

Love it and hate it

I loved the first two hours of this book. It really gave a new perspective and new ideas to the series. After that though, it seemed to go into a bit more "flashback/dream sequence" style, designed to give you more info on Dresden's past. After 14 books, I don't know if this was necessary. Also, by the end of the book, I realized that it hadn't moved the story line along at all, and was more of just a stalling tactic until the next book. Still highly recommended.

Dresden Does it!

loved it. Great narrator and story. good voice acting. No visit to Mac's . enjoyable series development.

Nobody does Dresden like Marsters!

It was like a hole in the series, thank you Audible for the re-release!

Best moment: Butters responding to Skadi's invite into the ring with "yeah, when I get a working lightsaber!" HA!

James is back!!!

This book just wasn't the same without James Marsters reading it!!! Thanks for bringing him back! Oh and of course the book is fantastic! I'm ready for the next Dresden Files to be released.